‘Doom and gloom’ doesn’t fit Ellesmere

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 20

‘Doom and gloom’ doesn’t fit Ellesmere

The future of Ellesmere County

Any “doom and gloom” approach to the future of farming in the Ellesmere County is not appropriate, according to a well-known farmer, Mr Oakleigh Osborne, whose family has been in the district for over 100 years. “I have faith in the future of Ellesmere because its problems will be resolved by farmers working through their predicaments,” he said. The third generation Osborne to farm “Winfield,” near Doyleston, Mr Oakleigh Osborne has said that Ellesmere often mistakenly impresses visitors as being an easily-farmed corner of the Canterbury plains. “The use of the word ‘elite’ in describing some soils in Ellesmere, although they may be the best in their class, does not mean that they are ‘good soils’ by world standards when ‘good’ means deep. “Much of Ellesmere is ‘fingered’ by strips of shallow, lighter soils extending towards the coast from the central plains. “Between these fingers are found the clay-bound, winter-wet soils,” he said. The ability of these soils to keep grass growing after Christmas had long been recognised by dairy farmers and some top producing

herds and studs were located in the county. But now dairying had swung towards the lighter, irrigated land near the Rakaia River where winter wetness was much less of a problem. White clover seed production was also spreading across lighter land under the influence of irrigation.

Mr Osborne said it was a pity for farmers of heavy land in Ellesmere who had traditionally grown clover for seed that the market had become depressed. But the problem needed a deeper examination.

“Has white clover been over-priced? he asked. “No,” say those who have used the returns to balance increasing costs.

“But it has also allowed capital expenditure in deep irrigation wells and extensive plant on the central plains and the result has been over-supply and lowered prices. “But is this all bad?

“If the central plains is the place to grow white clover, well then grow it there. “If the economies of scale are such that it is still profitable at today’s prices then the traditional, white clover-producing, heavier soils have to ‘move over’.

“Surely not all is lost because the white clover price is low; think of the increased usage on hill country and the benefits to be gained.” Mr Osborne said the problem of “lack of scale” was a result of the first subdivisions, when every unit did a bit of everything — cows, pigs, sheep and crops — and was compounded by divisions between family members.

Land values rose out of proportion for the smaller units because of prestige demand and not productivity. The difficulty of sorting out land values without occupiers getting hurt will be

important for Ellesmere, Mr Osborne thought. He ruled out widespread farm aggregation among the owners of smaller units, believing that these farmers would find new crops and begin in horticulture. Specialist crops required more knowledge and skills and specialist machinery that would need a high capital input, but the economic justification would come from maximising usage through company ownership rather than farm syndication, he thought. Syndication usually worked fine with a 7 tonne roller, because they couldn’t be damaged very easily, but it was a different matter with a combine harvester. “A belief also exists that a change to horticulture will solve all the ills of economy of size and high cost. “But farmers cannot lose sight of the philosophy of ‘do what you can do well’.” Mr Osborne numbered himself among the traditionalists who consider those with 100 per cent: cropping “not really; farmers.” Deprived of the rewards of livestock farming, their properties developed weed problems and came to rely more and more on chemical controls.

In other words, he saw a need for a continued balance of stock and crop, even on small units in the county. Mr Osborne, who is a member of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, also commented on irrigation proposals for the central plains and their possible effects on Ellesmere county and lake. “Irrigation on the plains must be part of an over-all enhancement programme. “The ability of the sub stratas to act as storage for the whole area must not be overlooked.” He thought irrigation would get more sophisticated, raising the need for accurate well monitoring. “The next step is for individual farmers to put in meters and I realise this will be a nasty pill to swallow. “I recently employed some soil moisture monitoring experts and found that the irrigation return period should have been more like five days rather than 14 or 21. “To improve his understanding of water application, the Canterbury farmer must know how much is leaving his pump.” Such widespread monitoring of wells would greatly assist the understanding of

groundwater for the catchment board experts. “When we get the answers, then we will know what to do regarding irrigation of the central plains, the recharging and any consequential downstream effects. “There is enough water for everyone to use and enjoy if enhancement is implemented. “New Zealanders have developed the attitude that what is there by nature is for everyone to use and abuse for free. “Enhancement is an opportunity for supplementation when nature has shortfalls and the greatest benefits could go to recreational users, especially in Ellesmere. “The proper management of supplementation should ensure that Ellesmere’s heavy soils don’t get; flooded, but its streams don’t go dry either and the waters of Lake Ellesmere return to their former clarity.” Mr Osborne said people in the county had been regarded as traditionalists and loath to accept change. “The future of Ellesmere must rest with a younger generation with enthusiasm about accepting change and modern technology. “They must be able to run the risk of new crops and breeds or types of livestock.” Mr Osborne also observed that future wives of the district would have to be ladies with an understanding of the stresses and strains of agriculture, as have the wives of the past and present generations.